Emergency link



May 14, H E

EMERGENCY LINK Filed May 17, 1954 Patented May 14, 1935 UNITED STATES m'rssro FFlCE EMERGENCY LINK Hyman Gerstein, Hartford, Conn. Application May 17, 1934, Serial No. 726,127

' 2 Claims. (0!. 59-45) My tire c It has-among its invention relates to emergency links for increase the traction eflect or the chain. Further objects of my invention are to provide such an improved link which may be readily and quickly connected while being both very strong and also adapted to be manufactured at small expense. Tihese and other objects of my invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompa ying drawing I have shown for purposes of illustration, one embodiment 28 -tures hereinafter described.

Considering first the open form of the link, it will be noted t the latter-comprises a body portion in the form of a diagonally disposed substantially straight length of suitable wire having rounded oppositely disposed curved portions atthe opposite ends thereof and disthe same planetherewith. Leading .upward from these portions 2 and l and forming continuations thereof are'arcuate i. On the extremities of these portions 4 and 5 are further provided end portions! and l which are extended oppositely across the portion I above the same. More particular it will be noted that the portion 6 extends the upper end 01' the portion! portion l in ,such manner as with the portions 5, I and I to form a loop 8, while theportion 1 in such mannervas plan view of the same; I

- still having their ends latten ly upward from i and enter the loops 8 and 9.

In use, after the severed chain ends have been thus connected, the end I, but closer together, as shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7, as contrasted with Figures 1, 2 and 3, all

release of adjacent chain ends from the loops 8 Further it will be noted that in this position the portions 8 and "I to in efiect, spaced-cross bars over the top or outer surface of the portion 1 while extending angularly relative 'to one another and the portion I above the As a result-of my improved-construction, it is longer period of use the end portions 6, I also tend to rest upon the upper surface of the portion I'in such manner as eflectively to continue their several functions. As regards wear, it will also be evident that the extremities of the portions 6 and l absorb a large part of the wear through contact with the portions 2 these portions is very long-lived in service; all while, of course, also increasing the traction and acting to efiectually to prevent the ing of the loops tion I and'on assume in practice,

' tially S-sh ape prevent skidding as broughtout above. It will also be evident that the link, being made of a single length of wire and capable of being formedin a usual forming machine, is capable of being manufactured at small expense. These and other advantages of my improved construction will,

From the foregoing the outer opposed sides of the free'end portions 6 and I are normally spaced, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, and extend diagonally'across theirrespective ends of the relatively straight body porthe same side of said body portion. Also, that the extremities of the free end portions 6 and I are bent upward in opposite directions when said free end portions are bent into sub-.

stantial contact with the respective ends of the body portion i, as shown in Figs. and 6. Openformed by the curved portions 2 and 3 and their free end portions 6 and 1, under abnormal strains'applied to the'loops in use, is thus prevented as, under such conditions, the

' outer opposed sides of the free end portions 6 and 1 will be brought into cooperative abutting relationship, across the relatively straight body portion, which extends diagonally between said end portions:

While I have inthis application specifically described one embodiment which my invention may it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that the illustrative construction may be modified without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: J

1. An emergency link for tire chains or the like comprising a length of wire bent into substanhaving a relatively straight central body portion,- and loops at the opposite ends of said body portion, the free end said loops extending in opposite directions across their respective ends of said body portion and on the same side thereof in normal spaced relation therewith, whereby said end portions may be it will be apparent that,

" sect said loops, whereby the free ting relation, on said intermediate readily connected to adjacent chain ends and bent into substantial contact with the ends ,of said body portion, in which latter position the extremities of said loop end portions are upturned in oppositedirections and so disposed as to be brought into cooperative abutting relationship, across the relatively straight central body portion, under abnormal strains applied to said loops.

2. An emergency link for tire chains comprising a rod bent to provide 'a loop at each end of a substantially straight intermediate portion, the outer sides of the free end portions of the loops being in spaced opposed, relation and said inter mediate portion extending diagonally across said free end portions of and provide a tire engaging and positioning portion beyond the loopsythe free end portion of each loop being normally bent upwardly out of the plane of said intermediate portion and spaced therefrom on the same. side portion to provide a substantial diagonally extending space between said loop free end portions which will not intersaid loops may be bent into substantial contact with said intermediate portion adjacent its respective ends so as to besupported out of contact with the tire and provide transverse traction in- I the opposed outer sides of. the free end portions will be brought into abutportion, and prevent opening of the loops when abnormal strains are applied thereto. i

. GERSTW.

the loops to space said loops portions of end portions of 

